Mykonos Shore Excursion Review: What to Know Before You Book
On our recent Mediterranean sailing on the Sun Princess, Mykonos was the port I was most excited about. I woke up that morning buzzing — coffee in hand, sunscreen on, ready to explore. I booked the Exclusive Mykonos Old & New Tour through Shore Excursion Group, which had great reviews and seemed perfect for a first‑time visit.
Spoiler: it wasn’t the right fit for us. But Mykonos itself? Absolutely magical.
This review breaks down what worked, what didn’t, and what I wish we had done instead — plus the best Mykonos shore excursions for cruise travelers.
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This is me so excited I couldn’t stand it! Let’s do this!
Top Mykonos Shore Excursions for Cruise Travelers
Small‑Group Mykonos Highlights Tour
Delos Island Archaeological Tour
Mykonos Beach Transfer + Free Time
Mykonos Town Walking Tour
Mykonos Catamaran Cruise
You can find these and more on Viator Top 20 Mykonos Tours
🏖️ Tips for Visiting Mykonos Beaches on a Cruise Stop
We arrived around noon and grabbed a quick bite at Alfredo’s before meeting our tour group. The first red flag? The group size. There were 40+ people with one guide, and everyone was whispering the same thing: “Are they splitting us up?”
They weren’t.
We boarded a large bus and headed to a beautiful beach — but only for 15 minutes. No free time, no swimming, no relaxing. Just a quick photo‑op.
If you love beaches, Mykonos has some of the best in Greece. I wish we had booked a beach day instead.
Packing Essentials for Mykonos
Comfortable walking sandals
Cooling towel
Electrolyte packets
Portable fan
Crossbody anti‑theft bag
Reef‑safe sunscreen
Travel water bottle
Find this and more on my Amazon Essentials List for Mykonos
It is a lovely beach - wish we could have stayed here all day!
We stayed at the beach for approximately 15 minutes, then we loaded back up on the bus to head to the town of Ano Mera.
Exploring Ano Mera Village & Panagia Tourliani Monastery
Ano Mera is charming, and the monastery is beautiful — but our time felt rushed. After a long introduction, we had only a few minutes to explore before heading to a café for Greek doughnuts and coffee.
We barely had 10 minutes of free time in the village before loading back onto the bus.
After a short visit to the monastery, we headed to a local cafe for a snack of Greek doughnuts and coffee. We had maybe 10 minutes left to explore the cute village and then head back to the bus to head to the new part of Mykonos.
🚶♀️ Mykonos Town: Where the Tour Fell Apart
When we arrived in Mykonos Town, our guide bought water‑taxi tickets for the return trip. That’s when I whispered to my husband:
“We should leave this tour.”
The water taxi was only €2, and if I had known that earlier, I would’ve bailed immediately.
Our group of 40+ wandered through the narrow streets, stopping constantly so the guide could share information we could barely hear. As someone with ADHD who likes to keep moving, this was torture. We weren’t learning anything new, and the constant stopping made the tour feel endless.
By the time we reached the windmills, everyone was ready to escape. When someone asked for their return ticket early, I sent my husband straight over to grab ours too.
Freedom! We didn’t know exactly how to get back to the ship, but we didn’t care — we were finally on our own.
I want to point out that I have never written a negative review before; I usually find the good in every experience. However, during this tour, I spoke with a fellow passenger about her thoughts on it, and by the end of our conversation, we both felt like we were hostages on this tour. It was truly a disappointing experience!
I will add that Mykonos was charming. I really wish we had done something different this day. I did enjoy exploring the streets. I wish we had been able to explore them at our own pace.
What I Recommend Doing Instead of This Tour
Option 1: DIY Mykonos Town + Windmills
Option 2: Beach Day
Option 3: Mykonos Highlights Tour (Small Group)
Option 4: Delos Archaeological Site Tour - I think my history-loving husband would have loved this tour
This Mykonos tour wasn’t my favorite, but I’ve reviewed dozens of cruise ports with detailed tips, honest insights, and the best things to do in each destination. Explore them all in my Cruise Port Guide.
🧭 How to Get Back to the Cruise Port From Mykonos Town
The water taxi is €2 per person and runs frequently. It’s easy, cheap, and honestly the best way to return to the ship.
🧳 Related Posts to Help You Plan
🧠 My Verdict
As a Mykonos shore excursion, this tour fell short. The group size was too large, the commentary was hard to hear, and the experience didn’t justify the time. For cruise passengers, I recommend skipping this one and choosing:
A small‑group highlights tour
A beach transfer
Or simply DIY Mykonos Town
You’ll get more value and a much better experience.
My Verdict
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